MANILA – The Joint Task Force Corona Virus Shield (JTF CV Shield) on Tuesday said it will recommend the implementation of a "no quarantine pass, no entry policy" to ensure the observance of safe physical distancing rules in shopping malls in Metro Manila under the modified enhanced community quarantine.
"Dapat may quarantine pass ka kasi supposed to be, ikaw lang mag-avail niyan (in your family) [You should have a quarantine pass because you are the only one in your family who can avail of that]," JTF CV Shield commander, Lt. Gen. Eleazar told reporters after a meeting between police officials and various mall security officers in Metro Manila.
The meeting tackled the strict implementation of rules to prevent further spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) in malls.
During the meeting, one of the tricky discussions was the rule on quarantine pass and identification cards that would authorize persons to enter the malls in MECQ areas like Metro Manila, particularly on the issue of whether or not quarantine passes from nearby cities or areas would be honored.
This is because some malls and business establishments are located near the boundaries of some cities such as Robinsons Place Galleria, SM Megamall and Shangri-La Mall.
Eleazar said he is hopeful that mall security managers and concerned local commanders would find an arrangement that would allow residents of nearby areas to go to the malls to buy essential goods.
“Pero kung ikaw ay taga-Parañaque pero gusto mong mamimili sa mga mall sa Quezon City o Makati, ang tawag dun lakwatsa na, at hindi natin ito papayagan (But if you are living in Parañaque but you want to shop in malls in Quezon City or Makati, you call that roaming, and that is not allowed),” said Eleazar.
In some areas such as Marikina which do not enforce the use of no quarantine pass, Eleazar said they will leave the matter to the local police, local government units and mall managers to come up with guidelines.
Eleazar, however, said the bottom line of the discussion is to ensure strict enforcement of the protocol on wearing of face masks and safe physical distancing, which include determining a maximum number of people allowed inside the malls based on a "two square meters per person rule".
“Let us not make the malls the ground zero of the new wave of (Covid-19) infection. Let us work together to start the normalization of your business while at the same time observing each and everyone’s obligation to protect the health of the Filipino people,” he added.
Eleazar said that while he is certain that mall security managers also want to protect both their employees and customers from Covid-19, all efforts could go in vain if proper implementation of protocols is not observed.
He then cited what happened in some malls on the first day of the reopening wherein the excitement of the mall-goers after two months of being under quarantine resulted in an influx of people and unnecessary disregard of the rule on safe distancing.
“It all boils down really on the implementation. We trust that all our mall managers already learned the lessons from the incidents in some malls in order to come up with a better implementation of our protocols,” said Eleazar.
With the implementation of the protocols, malls should not violate the rights and welfare of the consumers, Eleazar added.
He also assured that police are ready to help and coordinate with the mall management and security to enforce health protocols. (PNA)
